Page 33 of Theirs to Tempt: The Marriage Claim

I trace the rim of my glass with one fingertip. And I finally admit to her the realization I’ve been fighting. “I don’t see how.”

After a fortifying drink, I tell her the rest, about Lucian wanting the wedding to happen within a month and wanting me to move in even sooner.

And because it’s Piper, I tell her about Caleb too.

“Dear God. Two husbands. That’s not even legal.”

The server delivers the charcuterie, and Piper lifts her glass the moment we are alone again.

“Well, I guess we can’t exactly celebrate your engagement.” Her smile is wry, eyes sparkling with the fierce loyalty that has defined our friendship since college. “So let’s drown our sorrows instead.” She clinks her glass against mine.

We both take long drinks.

Just then my phone vibrates against the table. I ignore it.

Piper’s eyebrow arches. “You should look. Could be important.”

“I’d rather not.” But I turn the device over.

There’s a new message.

Be ready to go by 7:45 tonight.

I slam it down.

Piper’s gaze flicks to the screen, her curiosity plain. “More demands?”

I nod, my headache spiking again. “They want me to be ready to go at seven forty-five.”

“Where?”

“They didn’t say.”

Another vibration cuts through the quiet. Before I can stop myself, I glance at it.

Brats get punished.

My heart lurches to a stop.

Piper snatches the phone before I can stop her, and she reads the screen. Her brows shoot up. “Sophie?”

I bury my face in my hands for a second, the memory of Lucian’s mouth on mine flashing hot behind my eyelids. “Yesterday, he had a garment bag delivered to me and told me to wear the dress to dinner.”

“And?” She puts down my phone.

“I didn’t.”

She toasts me with her glass.

“Then at dinner, he called me a brat.”

She pops an olive in her mouth. “Was he teasing? Or is he like a Dom?”

My mouth falls open.

Oh. Dear God.

No. No, no, no, no, no. No.